Hissa Plays Closer to Home, Ready to be a Starter

By
KBJR News 1

July 3, 2013Updated Jul 3, 2013 at 9:48 PM CDT

Eau Claire, WI (NNCNOW.com) --- For the past two summers, Donnie Hissa has played ball in New Hampshire, but this year he made a jump closer to home, and a jump from the bullpen to the starting rubber.

Notre Dame senior Donnie Hissa has gotten used to coming out of the bullpen.

"There's a lot of adrenaline, but you can't have too much," Hissa said. "You have to control it. This is a game where you need to really keep your head. If you don't do that, then you're really going to be hurting."

Come next season, Hissa may find himself in a new role for the Irish.

"He has an opportunity to be a weekend starter at Notre Dame, and I think this is a great tutelage to get an opportunity to start and figure out the routines for a starter," Lakeshore Chinooks manager Eddy Morgan said.

For now though, the Iron River native is spending the summer playing for the Northwoods League Chinooks.

"There's no place like being close to home," Hissa said. "This is still six hours south, but my parents and family get to come to some of the games."

With 70 games in just 75 days, Hissa knows baseball's not for everyone.

"It's slow moving, and you have to think about stuff. It's special, that's for sure."

It's a game that Hissa hopes to continue playing after he graduates next year.

"I'll sit around and see if I get called, and if I do, it'll be awesome to get that shot. If I don't, I've had a great time. I'll still play somewhere and do something."

"He's a tremendous young man and has great pitchability," Morgan said. "He comes every day and is a true professional. He's going to have a great career I believe after college baseball."

As long as Hissa's playing ball, he'll continue to do so with his right foot forward.

"I always put on my right shoe first, right sock and right shoe first. Other then that, that's pretty much it."

A superstition that may just help to land Hissa in the pros next year.